Background: Suicide which is a highly individualized act is a common endpoint for many patients with severe psychiatric illness especially bipolar affective disorder. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts among representative samples of psychiatric patients with bipolar affective disorders. Methods: The study design was a retrospective one. Charts were screened over a time period from June 2012- December 2012. The charts which were diagnosed as bipolar affective disorder were included in the analysis. The patients were diagnosed using DSM IV TR criteria. The charts were analyzed for the sociodemographic data, age at onset, past, personal and family history, symptamatology, presenting symptoms, treatment details. Results: T he total number of charts which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were 50 in number. About 34(68%) were males and 16(32%) were females, 35(70%) were married. Most of the sample 64 %( 34) were from 20-40 age group and 84% were educated, almost all the subjects came from the middle and lower socio economic strata. Study found that 5(10%) patients had attempted suicide and 14(28%) had suicidal ideation; all attempters also reported ideation. On comparing the people who attempted suicide with those who had suicidal ideation there was a significant difference (p<.oo5). Conclusion: The study gives important implications in terms of the assessment and emphasis on risk factors .The immediate implication of this study is the importance and need for proper assessment, follow up and psycho education of the patients suffering from bipolar disorder in order to reduce a significant morbidity of suicide